Forbidden Steps: A Stepbrother Romance

by Sommerland, Bianca

  Adjusting the towel so she was fully concealed, Ashley shrugged. “One of her models had an emergency. Mom had to go.” she cocked her head and gave him an irreverent smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll pretend to be surprised.”

  Colin’s lip twisted wryly. “Don’t think there’s much point of that. I’m sure Steph heard you scream.”

  Ashley took another, smaller towel from a shelf by the sink and scrubbed it through her hair. “Naw. You can’t hear nothin’ from the kitchen. Hell, you can have sex in the hallway and no one would know unless they were standing right here.”

  Eyes wide, mouth dry, dick hard, Colin stared at her. Then he got mad. “How the hell would you know that?”

  Dropping the wet towel over the sink, Ashley gave him an odd look, then flushed. “Not ‘cause of anything I’ve done. My mom and Steph’s dad made up a few nights ago…in the hallway.” She grimaced. “If I had heard them before hand, I might not be scarred for life.”

  “Ah.” Colin didn’t know what to say. His stepfather fucking anyone wasn’t a mental image he wanted.

  Ashley giggled. “You should see the look on your face.” Her gaze traveled down to his chest. She tugged her lip between her teeth. “Shit. I’m sorry. I was all wet and I got you soaked.”

  Colin felt as though large hands had encircled his throat and were squeezing down. He licked his lips, letting his eyes roam. Strands of hair, almost black while wet, clung to her slender, pale shoulders. Her breasts, smaller than their stepsister’s, but still enough to be a handful, pressed against the white cloth of the tightly bound towel. Her legs. God her legs were so long.

  A snap of fingers brought his eyes back to her face. “Hey. What’s up with you?”

  Taking a deep breath Colin forced a smile. “Nothing. I’m just happy.” Saying so reminded him of how grateful he truly was, grateful to have her back, awake and well. “Come here.”

  Ashley went willingly into his arms, accepting his need to hold her, needing to be held. Colin tried to keep his thoughts on gratitude, on how wonderful it was to be able to hold her again. Hard as he tried they drifted back to how it had felt to have her pressed naked against him. So innocent, so trusting. With a bit of work…

  Angry with himself, Colin released Ashley and put some distance between them. It was bad enough that she’d lost two years of her life because of him. Now, to top it off, he was thinking of using her?

  Not gonna happen.

  Resolved to enjoy the party and then, when the time was right, convince Steph to show him her apartment—most importantly her bed—Colin made a vague motion from Ashley to her room. “You should get dressed. I don’t know who’s been invited, but…”

  Ashley nodded curtly and cut him off. “Oh everyone, I’m sure. Now that I look normal again, everyone will want to see me—tell me how much they prayed for me, tell me that they never gave up hope.” She smiled suddenly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I should get dressed. Wouldn’t want to disappoint anyone by looking any less than my best.”

  Colin watched her turn. He wanted to stop her, to tell her she was wrong. He didn’t. She wasn’t and he wouldn’t lie to her. He had years to make up for and being anything less than honest wasn’t a good way to start.

  In her open doorway Ashley stopped and glanced back. “I know you gave up, Colin. I know and I understand. I don’t blame you. I’m just glad giving up didn’t get you killed.” she took a deep breath and met his eyes. “I. Don’t. Blame. You.”

  When the door closed Colin bent down slowly and grabbed his knife. Hands too shaky to even consider shaving, he turned away from the bathroom, stuffed his knife in his boot, swallowed, and took several measured breaths. Making his way to the stairs he slid down the wall and sat on them, trying to clear what felt like a rock in his throat.

  She didn’t blame him. He hadn’t missed the meaning, or the truth behind it. Not only did he not need to beg her forgiveness, she’d decided there was no fault to forgive.

  Colin didn’t know if he believed that. Right then and there what he believed didn’t matter. Only Ashley mattered. Ashley’s trust, her acceptance and her love—even if he received it from no one else, it didn’t matter. If no one was left on earth save him and the two girls—two women, he’d loved for so long, he’d be a happy man.

  As his head dropped back hard against the wall, Colin groaned. Imagining himself with both of them was a very bad idea. His hands had been full with one before enlisting. Both?

  If Ashley was anything like Steph, he wouldn’t survive a single night. The thought made him groan again. The guests better come quick. If not, he was going to the kitchen to bang his stepsister while she put icing on the damn cake.

  * * * *

  “Ashley grew into quite a beauty, didn’t she, Roland?”

  “Such a miracle. You must thank God every day for giving you such a miracle.”

  “Have the doctors told you if there’s any brain damage?”

  Stephanie clenched her fist around the knife and stabbed it into the cake. For the first hour of the party—which she considered a flop since Ashley’s mother had yet to show and had managed to spoil the surprise—Stephanie tolerated the gushing, the questions, the exaggerated shows of concern. Now she was fed up. Letting go of the knife, before she was tempted to use it on anyone, she turned slowly.

  Eyes burning with rage, Colin stood. Stephanie stepped up to his side, prepared to lash out with words to keep him from lashing out with his fist.

  Ashley skipped in front of them, mahogany colored curls bouncing off her shoulders, and faced their uncle, a big smile on her face. “No brain damage. Actually the doctors were amazed I made such a complete recovery. No neurological impairment, no dampening of nociception—you can’t believe how relieved I was to hear that…”

  Colin snorted and coughed back a laugh. Stephanie looked over at him, wondering what was so funny.

  At ease now Colin smiled, leaned close and whispered in her ear. “Nociception is the perception of painful stimulus.”

  Stephanie had to fight not to snort herself. So much for coming to her stepsister’s rescue. She obviously didn’t need it.

  The coma hadn’t killed Ashley’s spirit. In fact, it looked like it might have just given it some edge.

  “It must be so hard for you though…” An old lady—one of Steph’s great-aunts if she could remember correctly—was saying. “Waking up to find you’ve lost two years of your life… Then to find out that young man you were seeing…”

  “Bob.” Uncle Roland injected readily.

  The old woman smiled and nodded. “That’s right. Bob.” She gave Ashley a sickeningly sympathetic look. “Well to find out he’s dead.”

  Cold and detached, Ashley settled her light green eyes on the woman’s face. “No. Actually I’m just happy to know he didn’t kill anyone else. He was drunk. He shouldn’t have been driving. I was stupid to get in the car with him.”

  “Cake anyone?” Stephanie held up a plate with a slice, her tone loud enough to make it clear the subject was closed.

  The guests began to converge around the table. Stephanie handed out slices, her eyes drifting over to Ashley who had evaded Colin and was playing with the stereo. Several guests muttered complaints about the heavy metal she put on, but a glance from Stephanie silenced them. This was Ashley’s party, not a display of the miracle girl for their entertainment. If they didn’t like it, they could leave.

  The music made the atmosphere much more pleasant. Stephanie wasn’t crazy about the screaming and squealing guitars herself, but she could tolerate it. Most of the others couldn’t. The old women made their way to the kitchen, the men headed to the backyard to smoke. Only Colin, Ashley, and a collection of Steph’s cousins were still in the room.

  Maybe the worst had passed. Maybe, just maybe, the party hadn’t been such a bad idea after all. Ashley seemed happy enough now; chatting with one of Steph’s cousins over a CD he was showing her. Heartened, Stephanie looked over at Colin. He didn’
t look happy at all. Actually, it looked like he wanted very much to go over and throttle her cousin every time he so much as brushed against Ashley’s arm.

  Lips curved, Stephanie looked him over. His stance said it all. Jaw shifting as he ground his teeth, fist clenched at his sides, feet shoulder width apart in a ready fighters stance. Someone had gotten possessive. He probably didn’t know it yet, but Stephanie read him well. Filing the information for a later date, she moved to tell him to lose the glare before someone else noticed.

  The front door swung open, hitting the wall, drawing everyone’s attention. The old women came in from the kitchen. The men ambled in from the backyard. Everyone stared.

  “Happy birthday, baby!” Steph’s father, Joseph Walker, stumbled into the room. The stench of liquor rose off him in waves.

  Ashley took a step towards him and froze. Her nose wrinkled. She took a step back.

  Joseph didn’t notice. Closing the distance between them, he grabbed Ashley and pressed sloppy kisses on her face. He dropped his arm over the back of her neck. “I got you something.”

  Stephanie dropped the knife on the empty cake platter and followed Joseph as he dragged Ashley out the door, Colin at her heel. At the sight of what her father was proudly showing his stepdaughter, Stephanie covered her mouth.

  A huge red bow covered the hood of the pristine white sports car. Her father weaved as he slapped a set of keys into Ashley’s hand.

  Ashley’s eyes were wide as she licked her trembling lips. “You drove it here?”

  Stephanie rushed to Ashley’s side. It looked like she was going to faint. Or be sick.

  Nodding stupidly, Joseph gave her a lopsided grin. “Something extra special for my darling’s eighteenth birthday.”

  A car screeched to a stop. Stunned, Stephanie watched the door open. Ashley’s mother, Grace, slid out from behind the wheel.

  “You drunken fool. I told you not to get it.” Her heels clicked against the pavement as she walked up to Ashley. “I’m so sorry, baby.” She kissed Ashley’s cheek and carefully cleaned spot of lipstick with her thumb. “We’ll get rid of him and go back in. Enjoy your party. What do you say?”

  Stephanie could feel Ashley shaking. She tried to think of some way to fix this.

  Colin came to the rescue. Kind of. “Party’s over. Me and Steph are bringing Ashley out to see if we can salvage what’s left of the night.”

  Joseph’s eyes narrowed. “Like hell you are. Stephanie threw her a nice party right here. You’re not going to ruin it for her.”

  Colin stepped up to him and sneered. “I can’t. You already have.”

  Joseph took a swing at him. Effortlessly, Colin blocked it. Grace grabbed his arm before he could swing back. Stephanie took hold of the back of Colin’s shirt and tugged him away before he was tempted to try again. “Get in the jeep, Colin.”

  Colin’s eyes shot to her face. With a sound of disgust, he walked to the jeep, got in, and slammed the door. Stephanie nudged Ashley to join him. Without a word she did.

  Breath hissing through her clenched teeth, Stephanie glared at her father. “Eight months sober. Good time for a relapse, Dad.”

  Ashley’s mother laughed. “Is that what he told you? Likely story.” She made a face. “I’ll have you know…”

  “I don’t want to hear it. He’s always been a drunk. Didn’t bother you until you found something better. Spare me the poor little me, Grace. I’m tired of it.” Stephanie waited, for some sadistic reason, to see if the woman would try for a clever comeback. She was usually so good at them.

  When she said nothing, and didn’t look like she was about to, Stephanie turned and headed for the jeep.

  “I want her home by midnight!”

  Stephanie looked over her shoulder at Grace and laughed. “Yeah. We’ll see.”

  Chapter Three

  The music blasting made talking unnecessary. It was a shallow relief, but Colin would take it. He didn’t trust himself to speak, not without making things worse.

  Steph appeared to feel the same way. He couldn’t be sure, she’d been staring out the window the entire ride, but the stiff set of her shoulders made it pretty clear she wasn’t up to small talk.

  Needing to know how Ashley was holding out, Colin looked into the rearview mirror. Then he smiled. Ashley was singing softly with the music. Didn’t mean she was okay but it was a good sign. For as long as he could remember one of Ashley’s favorite pastimes had been singing in the car.

  Highway to Hell came on and Colin cranked the music up even louder. Grinning at Ashley through the mirror he sang along, as loud as he could. Ashley laughed and raised her voice to accompany him.

  Through the corner of his eye Colin saw Steph smile at him. He smiled right back and kept on singing. Maybe he’d been right. Maybe the night was salvageable after all.

  When the song ended, Colin lowered the volume. At a red light he turned in his seat. “What would you say to movies and room service? It’s not much, but…”

  “That would be awesome. There’s that new movie…the one with Will Smith being the last man on earth…I don’t know if it’s out yet.” Ashley was leaning between the seats now.

  Colin didn’t have the heart to remind Ashley that the movie had come out two years before. “Sure. We can have a horror movie marathon.”

  That drew Steph’s attention. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  Heat rose under Colin’s collar. Tugging at his shirt irritably, he shot a dirty look at the cabbie that swerved his cab around the jeep, leaning on his horn. Noticing now that the light had turned green, he continued to drive, thinking about what had brought on Steph’s misgiving.

  The first time they’d gone beyond petting and kissing had been while watching a horror movie. One of the Saw movies if he remembered correctly. He hadn’t seen much of it. He’d been too busy sucking his stepsister’s clit.

  Steph tapped his shoulder and pointed at a corner store down the block. “Pull over here. I’ll pick up some snacks before we go to your hotel.”

  Pulling over Colin opened his mouth to ask if they were all going in, and closed it when Steph left the jeep and headed inside at a brisk pace.

  Ashley slipped between the seats and plopped down on the passenger side. “So what’s it like?”

  Colin moved his hand, much too close to her bare thigh, and set it awkwardly on his knee. “What?”

  Curling her hair around her finger Ashley smiled at him. “Killing people.”

  Amazed and shocked all at once Colin laughed. “You sure don’t beat around the bush, do you?”

  Cocking her head, a dimple forming high on her cheek, Ashley gave him an impish grin. “Should I?”

  Mind going somewhere Colin really didn’t want the girl he’d always considered his little sister to know about, he pounced on the first turn of topic he could think of. “You look really pretty in that dress.”

  Ashley fairly glowed at the compliment. “Really? Thank you.” She looked him over, then looked away. “You look awesome in those army duds.”

  Before things could get uncomfortable, Steph returned with a bag of snacks and soda. Waving Ashley down, Steph got in the back. “All right, we’re all set. Let’s get to the hotel. I am dying to soak in the hot tub.”

  Ashley turned to face her. “You brought your bathing suit?”

  Steph’s lip curved. “No. But I got my bra and panties.” She gave a little shrug. “Same difference.”

  Nodding slowly, Ashley faced front. Tugging at her lip with her teeth she turned to Colin. “You think you can do me a favor?”

  “Anything.” Colin didn’t even pause before he said it. He couldn’t think of anything she could ask that he wouldn’t do.

  “I don’t really want to go home tonight. Think you could rent me a room?”

  Colin’s breath caught. He could see it, her lying in the room next to his, on top of the covers in her bra and panties, transparent from the water.

  Steph reached forward a
nd patted her sister’s shoulder. “I don’t see it being a problem. Right, Colin?”

  Shifting in his seat, feeling strangled again, Colin just nodded. He forced his mind to focus on reality. Having Ashley in the next room wouldn’t be a problem. He’d be too busy fucking Steph all night to bother her.

  There was little doubt as to who would be on his mind when he did.

  * * * *

  “Goodnight Colin.” Ashley’s voice was the sweetest whisper as she bent down to give Colin a kiss on the cheek. In one of his borrowed shirts, bra and panties hung in the bathroom to dry, Ashley tiptoed from the room.

  Stephanie watched her, amused. Bending down in what appeared to be a mirror of Ashley’s motions she pressed a soft kiss on his cheek. And then bit his earlobe.

  Colin turned his head into the pillow the stifle his curses.

  Laughing quietly, Stephanie backed out of the room. “You better be awake when I get back.”

  Tossing the pillow at her, Colin leered. “Oh you bet I will. You’ve been a very bad girl Steph.”

  Blowing him a kiss, Stephanie smirked. “You gonna punish me, big brother? Promise?”

  She closed the door behind her before he could answer. Which didn’t matter much. They were both eagerly awaiting their time alone.

  Meeting with Ashley in the hall, Stephanie led the way to Ashley’s room, just a few doors down. Swiping the key card, Stephanie opened the door and looked around. She smiled in satisfaction.

  The room was much smaller than Colin’s. It was still nice, but it was a single room rather than a suite and it didn’t have a hot tub. Stephanie was willing to bet Ashley had enjoyed using Colin’s enough to want to do it again. Which worked out perfectly. The less reasons she had to be in here alone the better.

  Still, despite her small victory, Stephanie knew she must proceed with caution. If she moved too fast either Ashley—or possibly Colin—would be scared off.